Week 1: Building Trust (10.05.2026)

Podcast: Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast

Episode: “Building A Culture of Trust”

Description: In a world where mistrust is the default, trust is hard to earn and easy to lose. If you want to build a healthy culture, care for people, and lead with lasting impact, trust isn’t optional. It’s essential.

Discussion Questions:

• What builds trust fastest in your experience?
• How does trust break down in ministry contexts?
• Which practice from the episode resonates most with you?
• What’s one ministry relationship where you need to build trust?
• How will you take a step toward that this week?

Required Reading:

How to Win Friends and Influence People
Part One: Fundamental Technique in Handling People (Chapters 1-3)

Discussion Questions:

• Which idea from this section most challenged your usual way of responding to people?
• When have criticism, complaint, or condemnation made a relationship worse - even when your concern was legitimate?
• What is the difference between avoiding hard conversations and addressing them with humility?
• Carnegie emphasizes sincere appreciation. What does sincere encouragement look like in pastoral leadership?
• Where might you be tempted to treat people as problems to solve rather than people to love?
• How can leaders name what is good and growing in someone without offering shallow flattery?
• What would change in your ministry if you assumed that every person you lead is carrying unseen burdens?
• What is one relationship in which you need to practice more grace, appreciation, or curiosity this week?